‘I never went to university’ – billionaire Folorunsho Alakija admits
One of Africa’s richest women and
chairman of Famfa Oil, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija yesterday August 27th
revealed that she never went to a university, saying one does not need a
university education to make it in life. Mrs Alakija said this while
speaking with students of the University of Lagos during the 2014
UNInternational Youths Day in Lagos.
“I come from
Ikorodu, Lagos state. I am married to a dashing young lawyer of 70 years
of age and we have four grown up gentlemen and grandchildren. It has
not been a rag to riches fairytale. It has not been an overnight
phenomenon like some cases which you find here and there all over the
world. For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted my own
business. Hard work…am trying to tell you how I got to where I am if you
want those billions. Hard work, diligence, persistence…days where you
nearly gave up but I chose not to give up.” Continue…
It would have been
easy to compromise but I chose not to and I stayed focus. I could have
stayed a secretary as my father desired according to his plan for me but
I had bigger aspirations. I dreamt big. God strengthened me and gave me
wisdom. I had a passion and burning desire to succeed. Being a
secretary, a banker, a fashion icon, a cooperate promoter and printer, a
real estate owner, an oil magnate, that I can assure you was no easy
feat. Firm belief that what is worth doing is what doing well or not
doing at all. I took charge of my life with the tools I have shared with
you. I chose to become born again at the age of 40. I chose to make a
covenant with God that if he would bless me I would work for him all the
days of my life. I chose to hold on to the cross and look up to him
every step of the way. Today additional accomplishment includes a wife
of almost 40 years, a mother, grandmother, ministry, counseling,
outreach, NGO Rose of Sharon Foundation for widows and Author, writer,
author of several inspirational books. All I say to the glory of God. So
I am 63 and I am not yet done. So what is your excuse? I never went to a
University and I am proud to say so because I don’t think I have done
too badly. You do not have to have a University education to be able to
make it so count yourselves privileged to have that education as part of
the feather in your cap” she said.
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